Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-07-21

VIII Mrs Thorne since her marriage TO
some one whom her older sister Rhoda
did not like. And slight offered to
his mother was in Tad's eyes an un-
pardonable offense.
But so much thinking, together with
the warmth of the steam-heating pipes
at his back and the even, on-rushing
movement of the train, began to make
Tad drowsy. Peeping out of his hiding
place. he could see that many of the
passengers were disposing themselves
for uneasy slumber, and, judging by
certain sounds from the chair in front of
him, Tad's lady was already in dream
land. So, leaning his head back against
the fur-lined cloak which had already
served him such a good turn, and,
being used to sleeping in all sorts of
postures and places, Tad fell fast asleep
IN no time. Rousing himself at inter-
walls long enough TO silently change his
cramped position, Tad passed the long
night in comparative comfort, until
with the dawn of morning all began to
shake off their drowsiness, and to
struggle into more comfortable posi-
tons, as they grumbled about not hav-
ing slept wink during the night.
Tad s lady was not exactly cross, but
Tad noticed that she called her hus-
band Mr.. Mason, instead of John,
DEAR" as on the evening before, when
she asked him how he had rested. And
he also noticed that Mr.. Mason's voice
was rather sharp as he replied that the
COMPOUNDED chair had given him three
distinct kinks in his backbone, and
while economy was well enough in its
place, by Georgel another time he'd
have his own way, and take a section
in sleeper" as sure as his name
was John Masonl
$50, my ladyis Mrs. John Mason"
Tad thought to himself, trying in his
imagination to picture her face from
the sound of her voice, and failing en-
tirely. But without well knowing why,
he resolved not to forget the name of
the lady who-as he mentally ex-
pressed it-"belonged to the fur-lined
cloak. Other and less pleasant thoughts
began to Obtrude themselves, rs the
morning wore on. Now that he was
SO near his destination, Tad's growing
anxiety as to his future movements
contrasted rather strongly with his
philosophy of the previous evening.
"Tll get something to eat, first of
ALL finally decided Tad, resolving not
to lay any plans till this important duty
had been performed. He had cash
capital of ten cents, together with two
boxes of matches as balance of stock
in trade, so that he felt sure of a
breakfast-not a luxurious one, it is
true-but, like stale bun, very filling
for the price.
Besides. there was the sachel-he
could readily raise something on it at
the pawnbroker's. "But that don't
seem to be doing the square thing by
the heightened old party, after ALL"
unused Tad, thoughtfully; ''for even if
L don't ever run across him again
which the Observation-Disclosures bust
ness isn't circumstance to the chances
of doing-the bag isn't mine, after all.
1 wonder what's inside" he continued,
curiously, as he lifted it to his lap-''a
box of paper collars, and a toothbrush,
or a lot of thousan' dollar bonds?" But
his newly-awakened curiosity remained
unqualified. The sachel was securely
locked, and its peculiarly-shaped key
was probably at that moment in the
tall gentleman's pocket, wherever the
individual himself might be.
TO BE CONTINUED.